Latest releases
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57 releases
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Armstrong calls for interventions to support homeless in NI following Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping
Alliance housing spokesperson and All‑Party Group on Homelessness Chair Kellie Armstrong MLA calls on the Minister for Communities to fund measures that will save homeless lives, urging coordinated, long‑term solutions after the Prime Minister’s rough‑sleeping summit.
Housing Issue: Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping Original release: Armstrong calls for interventions to support homeless in NI following Prime Minister's summit on rough sleeping (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan challenges Executive doublespeak on homelessness prevention
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan says Executive parties' failure to deliver the Programme for Government pledge to prevent homelessness is a betrayal of 65,000 people, after the Communities Minister confirmed the First Minister refused to table a paper prioritising homelessness prevention funding.
Housing Issue: Executive refusal to table homelessness prevention funding paper Original release: Durkan challenges Executive doublespeak on homelessness prevention (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Extern Offices Part of the Solution, Not the Problem
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll, after meeting Extern in Belfast, defends the charity's planned move of its Homeless Support Service office to King Street. He says the work is outreach-based, criticises misinformation about the move, and calls for services to stay in the city centre.
Housing Issue: Extern Homeless Support Service move to King Street Original release: Carroll: Extern Offices Part of the Solution, Not the Problem (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Homelessness Commission cannot become cover for delay
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says a planned Homelessness Commission must produce immediate action, urging Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to consider SDLP proposals for a legal prevention duty and a six-month threatened-with-homelessness window, and to address the…
Housing Original release: Durkan: Homelessness Commission cannot become cover for delay (opens in a new tab)
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Minister’s attempt to take credit action on homelessness shows just how little he has delivered – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew, Chair of the Communities Committee, says the DUP Communities Minister's claim to credit for homelessness action shows how little he has delivered, after Gordon Lyons announced a Homelessness Commission. He says current homelessness laws need reform and points to his…
Housing Issue: Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces Homelessness Commission Original release: Minister’s attempt to take credit action on homelessness shows just how little he has delivered – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew urges public to submit responses on homelessness PMB before closing date
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew urges members of the public and organisations to send in evidence on his homelessness Private Member's Bill before the call for evidence closes on 3 September. The bill would extend the Housing Executive's support period for at-risk people from 28 to 60 days.
Housing Issue: Housing (Amendment) Bill call for evidence on homelessness support Original release: Gildernew urges public to submit responses on homelessness PMB before closing date (opens in a new tab)
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Significant concerns raised at Homelessness roundtable event – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to act urgently on homelessness after a roundtable with the sector, citing concerns about social housing supply, rising rents and house prices, and the absence of prevention legislation.
Housing Issue: Homelessness roundtable event concerns raised June 2026 Original release: Significant concerns raised at Homelessness roundtable event – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Progress needed to address homelessness crisis
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA urges the Communities Minister to make progress on homelessness plans, citing a 5% rise in homelessness households and 50,381 households on social housing waiting lists. He says the Executive has fallen short and that the Minister is set…
Housing Issue: Social housing waiting list passes 50,000 households figures Original release: Durkan: Progress needed to address homelessness crisis (opens in a new tab)
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McIlveen welcomes £500,000 veterans boost
Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen welcomes £500,000 in funding secured by veterans' charity Beyond the Battlefield to house and support former service personnel facing homelessness. She commends the charity's work and pledges to keep working with it on veterans' care in Northern Ireland.
Housing Issue: Beyond the Battlefield £500,000 veterans funding award Original release: McIlveen welcomes £500,000 veterans boost (opens in a new tab)
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Gordon Lyons ‘heel dragging’ on purchasing temporary accommodation – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew accuses Communities Minister Gordon Lyons of dragging his heels on buying temporary accommodation, saying none of the 600 homes funded under the scheme have been purchased. He calls on the minister to speed up purchases so homes reach those who need them.
Housing Issue: Communities Department purchase of 600 temporary accommodation homes not progressed Original release: Gordon Lyons ‘heel dragging’ on purchasing temporary accommodation – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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McCrossan: Minister must address soaring temporary accommodation spend
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee, calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to urgently address spending on temporary accommodation after a PAC report found £40m was spent in 2024/25.
Housing Public finance and taxation Issue: Public Accounts Committee report on homelessness Original release: McCrossan: Minister must address soaring temporary accommodation spend (opens in a new tab)
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NI homelessness crisis exacerbated by lack of investment and continued selling of social homes, says Armstrong
Alliance's Kellie Armstrong MLA says homelessness in Northern Ireland is worsening due to low prevention investment and NI Housing Executive Right to Buy sales, and calls for an urgent pause on selling social homes after a Public Accounts Committee inquiry recommended changes to the scheme.
Housing Issue: Public Accounts Committee inquiry on NIHE Right to Buy Scheme Original release: NI homelessness crisis exacerbated by lack of investment and continued selling of social homes, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Rising levels of homelessness must be tackled – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew calls on Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to tackle rising homelessness with greater focus on prevention, following a Public Accounts Committee report. He urges full acceptance of its recommendations and welcomes its support for his bill on preventing homelessness.
Housing Issue: Public Accounts Committee report on homelessness Original release: Rising levels of homelessness must be tackled – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín convenes meeting to tackle homelessness in Belfast
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says she has hosted a multi-agency meeting at Belfast City Hall with homeless providers, the Housing Executive, council and elected representatives. She says the talks covered backing existing services and improving winter emergency protocol communication, with more…
Housing Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall multi-agency homelessness meeting January 2026 Original release: Ní Chuilín convenes meeting to tackle homelessness in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín calls for a cross-party meeting on homelessness
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín calls for a cross‑party delegation meeting with homeless‑support providers, including the People’s Kitchen, the Welcome Centre and the Housing Executive, to devise short‑, medium‑ and long‑term plans so no one feels the street is their only option.
Housing Original release: Ní Chuilín calls for a cross-party meeting on homelessness (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: High level of homeless deaths reflects Executive failure
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan says repeated Executive failures directly contribute to the high number of homeless deaths, reacting to new statistics recording 58 such deaths in 2024. He calls for sustained investment in prevention, housing, mental health and addiction…
Housing Health Issue: NISRA report of 58 homeless deaths Original release: Durkan: High level of homeless deaths reflects Executive failure (opens in a new tab)
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Homelessness deaths devastating – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says the 58 homeless deaths reported by NISRA are devastating and urges priority action on homelessness, calling for more homes, better funded prevention services and legislation to extend Housing Executive support to at least 60 days.
Housing Issue: NISRA report of 58 homeless deaths Original release: Homelessness deaths devastating – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Communities Minister announces £150,000 seasonal funding for homeless…
DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announces a £150,000 goodwill grant, distributed via Homeless Connect, to fund festive meals, social events and presents for those supported by homelessness services over Christmas.
Housing Social security and welfare Issue: £150,000 Christmas goodwill grant for homelessness services Original release: Communities Minister announces £150,000 seasonal funding for homeless… (opens in a new tab)
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We must work to ensure everyone in NI has a safe and suitable home, says Armstrong, on Homelessness Awareness Week
Alliance Communities spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA says homelessness is too often reduced to statistics, labels or stereotypes, and calls for work to ensure everyone in Northern Ireland has a safe and suitable home, marking Homelessness Awareness Week.
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Armstrong welcomes progress by Courts to help prevent homelessness
Alliance housing spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA welcomes changes in court practice, including at bail hearings, that allow more time for support to be arranged before people leave prison. She credits Justice Minister Naomi Long for expanding prison-based advice on benefits and housing.
Housing Justice and policing Issue: Courts change approach to prisoner release and homelessness prevention Original release: Armstrong welcomes progress by Courts to help prevent homelessness (opens in a new tab)